Sport will soon be reimbursed, for the obese, by public services
The British authorities have decided to strike hard in the face of the obesity epidemic which is becoming more and more important. Since last month, in England, GPs have started to prescribe gymnastic sessions to their most wrapped up patients. This is reported by Adrien Renaud on his Nouvel Observateur blog (1) , a health economist and journalist.
Sport on prescription and reimbursed, it exists in England
“ Exercise is good for your health ”.
For years, this refrain has been used in all English sauces: physical activity is excellent for well-being and body balance. Doctors are talking more and more about it to their patients and are now, in England, prescriptions for sports activities . The fitness sessions are thus supported by the National Heath Service (NHS), which is the English equivalent of our social security. This organization also notes that obesity costs more than 15 billion pounds per year and will approach 50 billion if the trend continues.
The Telegraph reports that these prescriptions elicit mixed reactions. Roger Goss, of the organization Patient Concern (*) , indicates that the State should not assist people and tell them how they should eat, drink and move. Without saying that the 100 pounds spent to pay for the fitness course is not necessary.
(*) Totally independent organization, in England, which represents patients and which seeks to promote the best choices as well as the accountability of all health services.
In France, the beginning of this kind of reimbursement
Is the figure of 15% obese in France (according to the latest ObÉpi-Roche 2012 survey ) not large enough for the public authorities to rely on initiatives similar to those overseas meeting?
The city of Strasbourg has made its choice, and has been testing prescription physical activity since November 2012. The results are encouraging: no less than 150 doctors are taking part in the project and 800 prescriptions have already been prescribed for chronic pathologies (2) . This initiative encourages other cities, such as that of Blagnac (near Toulouse), to set up this mode of operation between the city doctor and his patients. It is not certain that the blocking of the obese towards the sport is just of financial order.
The idea that sport is a real medicine, however, has difficulty entering French customs. It was during a press conference on March 8 that certain Health Insurance organizations announced the reimbursement of up to 150 euros per year , i.e. the average costs incurred by a sporting activity, for people with Long Term Affection.
Restoring the image of sport
Doing sports on a regular basis reduces so-called civilization diseases such as cancers, diabetes, strokes, respiratory pathologies… Being active delays the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and reduces the relapse rate of cancers such as colon and breast. “Savings of more than 50 million euros can thus be achieved” specifies the president of IMAPS (3) . The main problem is that patients with ADL begin physical activity in the hospital but, once outside, they are on their own and are no longer encouraged to move.
Because doing sports on a daily basis is expensive, the registration fees must be paid for in the form of a sports check to be deducted from taxes. You should know that practicing an activity allows you to take less medication and reduces, by the same, the costs related to the purchase of certain medications. For François Chérèque, secretary general of the CFDT, the activity must be integrated within companies through collective contracts. The same is true in schools where sport has almost disappeared from lessons. However, a sedentary lifestyle between the ages of 12 and 20 has an impact on the occurrence of breast cancer in adulthood.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.